House Committee Tackles Gambling Legislation

The House Committee on Licensing and Administrative procedures began hearing debate on more than 20 different bills and constitutional amendments that would expand and further regulate gambling in Texas — from allowing casinos in cities and slots at race tracks, to casinos on Indian reservations, to ending many restrictions on bingo.

Supporters have said that allowing for expanded gambling at race tracks as well as allowing casino construction could generate much needed revenue to help fill the state’s massive budget gap.

A delegation from Jefferson County, which contains Beaumont and Port Authur, traveled to the capitol to testify in favor of expanding gambling in the state. They hoped that expanding gambling would bring casinos to their county, which they consider a key part of their effort to stem the flow of young Texans to the major cities.

“If anything can impact the growth of Jefferson County, it’s the casinos,” said Michael Sinegal, a Jefferson County Commissioner.

“There are a lot of professional jobs that are going to be created [by the casinos],” said Roosevelt Petry Jr., a board member of the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation.

Jon Hockenyos, an industry supported consultant, said that legalizing gambling and casinos would bring in an additional $1 billion plus, per year, once fully implemented.

A proposed constitutional amendment introduced by Rep. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, would dedicate money generated by legalizing gambling to help pay for public schools and universities.

Conservative groups such as the Texas Eagles Forum and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility said they were continuing their opposition to the measure. Measures that would expand gambling have been introduced during previous sessions of the legislature but have struggled to gain political traction.

Even with the significant revenue shortfall the state faces, a key Senate Republican has ruled out expanding gambling. Senate State Affairs chairman Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, told the Houston Chronicle’s Patti Hart that he will kill all of the gambling legislation that comes to his committee. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s office has told reporters they are sending all gambling legislation to Duncan’s committee.

The House committee isn’t expected to take action on the gambling bills today.